NAME

dd58 − copy a file to or from a TU58 connected to an asynchronous VAX line

SYNOPSIS

dd58 [option[=value]] ... 

DESCRIPTION

The TU58 tape drive is a block-addressable, random access cartridge tape storage unit often used with LSI 11 microcomputers.  The program dd58 provides a way to write TU58 tapes from the VAX (e.g., to create a bootable system tape).  It copies standard input to the TU58, or a given number of blocks from the TU58 to its standard output.  Because the TU58 controller is a block-oriented interface that relies on the driver to supply data quickly, one should never use a terminal as standard input.  Options are:

option values

sam set special addressing mode

-sam disable special addressing mode (default)

verify check data after reading or writing (default)

-verify do not check data after reading or writing

maint set maintenance mode

-maint disable maintenance mode (default)

drive=n use drive number n (default 0)

posit=n reading or writing begins with tape block n (default 0)

count=n read or write n bytes (default for writing is to end of file; this must be specified for reading)

read read from the TU58 and write to the standard output

write read from the standard input and write to the TU58

seek position the TU58 drive at the given block number

For example, to put the file x on a tape cartridge at block 31, using special address mode, use

dd58 sam posit=31 write < x

To read its first 512 bytes into the file y, use

dd58 sam posit=31 count=512 read > y

DIAGNOSTICS

Error messages are printed on the terminal; they are self-explanatory. 

December 01, 1986  —  Xinu Programmer’s Manual